The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-17
THE CRAZY SCOUT.


......f fhe Tennessee was pressing the
.... ..rafc. closely and 10 was ncces-
.tY preserve strong picket lines at all
.... ana keep The scouts constantly on
... lookout to avoid surprises
I'd. picket lines Of Bragg's army ex
...l.I several mixes, In order to watch
n. different roads leading to Chatta
nY.ri
N.rh of stevenson was q range Of
.r.flIn. known rs Walden's ridge,
..I..H was covered with dense growth
OBS and hickory. The country was
.r.. is settled there were few roads, OF
..a pathways. and the heavily wooded
.I and hillsIdes We're wild and
...I ia lhc extreme. There were caves,
. DDS. wild game ia abundance, and
... ng pertaining 10 country re-
.m civilization.
stand aI night on picket duty ia
lonely raviue where there was no
.rI save the babblIhg Of mountain
.....fs or tAe weird signing of the winds
f.a trees, was anything but pleas
N company was among those detailed
f.. f... duty. and thc lrst night we were
Stationed 100 dark. gloomy rayine at the
.f .' IS alden ridge. One of the picket
Nas under Large oak tree an the
.... darkest. most uuinierestns spot on
Uf eltl, Tine. We went ou duiy al
O'Clock at night and there would be mo-
~ until % o'clock the next morning.
A young wW. brave and watchim ana
.ri iatorie Id the company, was as
....I Ga Ola. most urI.r Tine giant ouE
night passed without incident Dui
..u wc were relieved next morning Phi
'e Thompson. iho young man stationed
el tAe tree was missing Ills gun
broken and lying near thc tree. AMI
... were Indications thnt q brief sirue-
lai taken place. hut nothing more To-
.I bis ntt There were no blood STAINS,
l Dds disappearance was mystery
..'0H- else was talked OF dunns.the dhy
.e members oi tAe company ana
..le Nia great anxiety To- learn the Iaie
.t BRAVE lDuh- >oilei.
jill. c9nd night Private bnuen was
.el to iHc post under the ifee lie
lc..I af iAe ml aiel when lett alone,
t bis foc. trml.el slightly, and 1t
apparent Chat le would have preferred
.'..l.N I.A.N'N t.A 'ti' tN'iN rtr't+tt "t-N
.t pissed without amy demonstration
.ur front. bat when Wc we've relieved,
M a.. oi every man ln tHe company
.....I -h1lc paiel when it was known
t EHl1h h1i also disappeared leaving
gum behind Here was q genuine
-ey aud 30 attracted The attention of
f.. officers of tho regiment a squad was
tailed t0 examine the locality by day
lit. lufa cuefUl search revealed moth
.r The officers decided that tuc mys
-rs would NOT occur again. and the picket
e Was formed for the third night
When tle relief came on ihe lhll morn
M lac man under lNc OAK was asai"
sing and BIS gun lying broken on the
unul What was % De oouc The my-
uy must Doe solved in some way
s.t Brown volunteered 60 take The
dreaded post ou the fourth night ana
promised t0 solve the mystery Tie was
uu wen formed Man. "a giant in
strength and % stranger to Tear. promptly
90 so'cl0cN that night he took his posi-
uu under Che ola oas.. whose branches
seemed 60 hang lower as though they
would euyelop tae pot in stI deeper
m5 -tery 1.e men and officers VI the
company i.lt confident of Sefst Brown IS
ability 90 penetrate lhe mystery, which
had cost ua tuoe Good men, ana ",Ie
eager iof morning 10 dawn. AL ,'s' '"S
leAet came ANA every man ,''Oe ''',,.''''.'